Limiting desorption in n-paraffin adsorption separation



July 21, 1970 R. M. L Ewls ETAL LIMITING DESORPTION IN N-PARAFFIN ADSORPTION SEPARATION Filed June l0, 1968 United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 208-310 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vapor phase hydrocarbon separation process wherein the straight chain hydrocarbon components of the feed to the adsorption Zone are adsorbed on a molecular sieve selective adsorbent and desorption is carried out to remove from Sil-70% of the adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons from the selective adsorbent.

The present invention relates to an improved vapor phase process for the separation of straight chain hydrocarbons from heavy petroleum fractions boiling in the gas oil range. lt is known from commonly assigned, U.S. Pat. 3,373,103 that C-C20 straight chain hydrocarbons can be separated from petroleum fractions containing same admixed with non-straight chain hydrocarbons by a processing cycle including the steps of adsorption, purge and desorption carried out at elevated temperatures and pressures.

The improved process of the present invention is partircularly directed to the separation and recovery of high molecular weight straight chain hydrocarbons from heavy petroleum fractions such as fractions boiling in the heavy kerosine and gas oil boiling ranges.

The present invention broadly comprises an adsorption step carried out at an elevated temperature and superatmospheric pressure wherein the vaporized petroleum fraction is contacted in an adsorption zone containing a bed of molecular sieve selective adsorbent of Type 5 A. structure to effect saturation of the molecular sieve pores with the feed straight chain hydrocarbons, terminating the adsoiption step when the adsorption vessel contains a straight chain hydrocarbon overcharge of between 0.5 and l5 weight percent; in a depressuring step reducing the adsorption pressure to a value not below atmospheric pressure; a purge step wherein the adsorbent is contacted with a straight chain hydrocarbon purge gas in vapor phase to remove surface-adsorbed hydrocarbons and hydrocarbons in the void spaces of the bed therefrom.; the purge step is terminated, a repressuring step to attain a pressure greater than the adsorption pressure in the adsorption vessel; a desorption step wherein the pore adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons are desorbed in the vapor phase with a straight chain hydrocarbon having a molecular weight less than the molecular Weight of the lightest straight chain hydrocarbon of the adsorbed hydrocarbons, terminating the desorption step when from about 50 to 70% of the pore adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons have been desorbed from the molecular sieve; in a depressuring step, decreasing the pressure to the adsorption pressure, and repeating the cycle.

The process of the present invention is particularly adaptable for the processing of high boiling petroleum fractions in the heavy kerosine and gas oil ranges, i.e. having boiling point temperatures ranging from 325 to 670 F. and containing C10-C20 straight chain hydrocarbons in relatively significant amounts on the order of or more by weight and especially C13-C20 straight chain hydrocarbons.

The expression surface-adsorbed hydrocarbons as used hereinabove includes all adsorption on the sieve other than in the sieve cages (within the zeolite crystal). The expression includes all the non-normal compounds adsorbed in the macro-pores of the sieve (inter-crystalline pores) as well as those adsorbed on the surface.

The method of the present invention is particularly adaptable for the production of high purity normal paraffins in excellent yields in a rapid, efficient and economical manner.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hydrocarbon treating process. A further object is to provide an improved method of producing relatively high molecular weight straight chain hydrocarbons of a high degree of purity in commercially attractive yields from mixtures of such hydrocarbons and non-straight chain hydrocarbons. A still further object is to provide an improved cyclic hydrocarbon separation process which is conducted in a relatively short period of time.

How these and other objects of this invention are accomplished will become apparent with reference to the accompanying disclosure. In at least one embodiment of the invention at least one of the foregoing objects will be achieved.

By straight chain hydrocarbon is meant any aliphatic or acyclic or open chain hydrocarbon which does not possess side chain branching. Representative straight chain hydrocarbons are the normal parafiins and the normal oletns, monoor polyolens, including the straight chain acetylenic hydrocarbons. The non-straight chain hydrocarbons comprise the aromatic and naphthenic hydrocarbons as well as the isoparainic, isoolenic hydrocarbons and the like.

The practice of this invention is applicable to any solid selective adsorbent which selectively adsorbs straight chain hydrocarbons to the substantial exclusion of nonstraight chain hydrocarbons. This invention, however, is particularly applicable to a molecular sieve selective adsorbent comprising certain natural or synthetic zeolites or aluminosilicates, such as a calcium aluminosilicate, which exhibits the property of a molecular sieve, that is matter made up of porous crystals wherein the pores of the crystals are of molecular dimension and are of substantially uniform size. In general, zeolites may be described as water-containng aluminosilicates having a general formula wherein R may be an alkaline earth metal such as calcium, strontium or barium or even magnesium and wherein R is an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium or lithium. Generally, these materials when dehydrated for the removal of substantially all of the water therefrom, retain their crystalline structure and are particularly suitable as selective adsorbents.

A particularly suitable solid absorbent for straight chain hydrocarbons is a calcium aluminosilicate, apparently actually a sodium calcium aluminosilicate, marketed by Linde Company, and designated Linde Molecular Sieve Type 5A or 5A-45. The crystals of this particular calcium aluminosilicate have a pore size or opening of about 5 A. units, a pore size suiciently large to admit straight chain hydrocarbons, such as the normal parains and the normal oleiins, to the substantial eX- clusion of the non-straight chain hydrocarbons, i.e., naphthenic, aromatic, isoparafnic and isoolenic hydrocarbons. This particular selective adsorbent is available in various sizes, such as in the form of ls or 1/16 diameter extrusions, or as a finely divided powder having a particle size in the range of 0.5-5.0 microns. In general, a selective adsorbent employed in the practice of this invention may be in any suitable form or shape, granular, spheroidal or microspheroidal.

The method of the present invention should be carried out in the vapor phase and under essentially isothermal conditions. This particular operating conditions selected are dependent on the nature of the feed stream to the adsorption zone, the carbon number range of the feed stream and desired product stream as well as the carbon number distribution (relative amounts of each carbon number) within the range, the straight chain hydrocarbon content of the feed stream and the olefinic, sulfur, nitrogen and aromatic content thereof. In general, the feed stream preferably should be relatively low in olefin, sulfur, nitrogen and aromatic content and these impurities can be readily reduced to acceptable limits or removed in a manner well known in the art such as by mild hydrogenation involving mild catalytic reforming. In addition, the feed stream should be relatively free from the lower molecular weight hydrocarbons such as in the range from about Cl-CS as such light hydrocarbons complicate recovery of the desorbing medium.

In the accompanying drawing the single figure thereof illustrates a schematic flow diagram of one method of carrying out the present invention. The drawing shows vessels 14, 14A and 14B as three vessels whereas it is actually one vessel in three different stages of the operating cycle, the adsorption, purge and desorption stages.

In the drawing a vapor phase mixture of relatively high molecular weight straight chain and non-straight chain hydrocarbons is charged by way of lines 1) and 12 into a lower end of an adsorption vessel 14 maintained at an elevated temperature and superatmospheric pressure containing a bed of synthetic calcium sodium aluminosilicate of Type 5A structure such as a Linde 5A-45 Molecular Sieve therein. In the adsorption vessel 14 the straight chain components of the feed mixture are adsorbed by the selective adsorbent, From the outlet end of the vessel 14 through line 16 there is recovered a treated effluent mixture now containing a substantially reduced amount of straight chain hydrocarbons therein as well as desorbing medium present in the sieve cages from a previous desorption step and the effluent is passed to a fractionator 18 from which is recovered a nonstraight chain hydrocarbon product stream by way of line 21 which can be passed to a storage vessel not shown for use as a fuel source and desorbent recycle stream by way of line 19 which can be returned to desorption feed line 40 by way of line 23. The desorbent medium present in the adsorption eflluent is obtained from the previous cycle wherein during desorption, a portion of the desorbing medium is adsorbed by the sieve pores from which the higher molecular weight straight chain components have been removed.

At the completion of the adsorption step, hereinafter more fully described, the feed in line to adsorption vessel 14 is discontinued. In the depressuring step, the vessel 14A is depressured by venting through lines 26, 27, 28 and accumulator 54 maintained at about atmospheric pressure. When vessel 14A is at the selected low pressure in the depressuring step, the purge step is begun. In the purging step, a stream of desorbing medium feed contained in lines 40, 42 and 44 is introduced countercurrent to the flow of the feed stream 10 into vessel 14A and a purge etlluent stream is withdrawn therefrom by way of lines 26, 27 and 28 and passed to purge accumulator 54. At the end of the purge step the repressuring step is commenced.

In the repressuring step, the flow of the stream of desorbing medium into vessel 14A by way of line 44 is continued to increase the pressure in the vessel to the selected desorbing pressure. When the selected desOrbing pressure is attained in vessel 14A the desorption step is begun.

In the desorption step, the desorbing medium in the vapor state is passed through lines 40, 42 and 43 into the adsorbent vessel 14B containing the straight chain hydrocarbon components adsorbed by the selective adsorbent. The flow of the desorbing medium is also countercurrent to the feed flow during the adsorption step.

Countercurrent desorption flow (i.e. opposite to the llow in the vessel during adsorption) is highly desirable to assist in removing adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons from the selective adsorbent.

The resulting desorption effluent is withdrawn from vessel 14B by way of line 36 and passed through lines 38 and 39 to fractionator 60 wherein the desorbate and desorbing medium are separately recoverd. The adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons in the desorbate are recovered from fractionator 60 by way of line 64. The desorbing medium is recovered by way of line 62 and can be returned to line 40 for further use.

At the termination of the desorption step, vessel 14B is depressured to attain the lower pressure used in the adsorption step and the cycle is repeated by introducing an additional quantity of fresh feed into vessel 14 by way of line 10 and line 12.

The adsorption step in the process of the present invention is carried out with the feed stream being in the vapor phase.

The particular adsorption temperature used varies with the type of charge stock, carbon number content thereof, and desired range of the straight chain hydrocarbons to be recovered from the charge stock. However, it is necessary to cariy out the adsorption step at a temperature above the dew point of the vaporized feed stream to minimize surface adsorption of the non-adsorbed hydrocarbons on the selective adsorbent and also to decrease the holdup of the charge stock in the sieve voids. A further requirement, which controls the upper temperature limit of the adsorption step is the need to avoid cracking of the charge stock. Keeping in mind these lower and upper temperature limitations, it has been found that a temperature range of S-675 F. in the adsorption step will permit excellent separations.

In the adsorption step, the adsorption vessel should be maintained at a positive pressure above atmospheric pressure to permit the selective adsorbent to adsorb an additional quantity of normal straight chain hydrocarbons in the adsorption step. It has been found that maintaining the adsorption vessel at a pressure of between 10 to 50 p.s.i.g. during the adsorption step affords good results in terms of rapid adsorption of the adsorbable components of the feed stream by the selective adsorbent.

The charge stock is introduced into the adsorption vessel at a selected rate and the feed is continued until the selective adsorbent is loaded with normal straight chain components of the feed. Introduction of feed is preferably continued beyond the point at which the straight chain components of the feed begin to breakthrough into the adsorption effluent (non-adsorbed portion of the feed). Introduction of the feed into the adsorption vessel is preferably terminated when there is a normal parain overcharge of between about 0.5 and 15 weight percent. y

Normal paraffin overcharge is defined as the amount of n-paraflins in the feed stock to the adsorption vessel which is charged during the adsorption step in excess of the total amount on a weight basis of recovered normal parains during desorption and the normal parains recovered in the depressuring and purge effluent streams expressed as a percent-age of normal parans charged. The utilization of the selective adsorbent at maximum eiciency is a material factor in the process of the present invention because it compensates for the less than complete desorption of the adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons in the subsequent desorption step. The overcharge range of 0.5-l5 weight percent is Suitable for excellent sieve utilization in a short processing time.

After termination of the adsorption step the adsorption vessel is depressured in a depressuring step to a lower pressure than the adsorption pressure. This depressuring step is required to remove some of the surface adsorbed non-straight chain hydrocarbons from the selective adsorbent and to also begin to remove from the adsorption vessel, particularly from the void spaces between the selective adsorbent some of the unadsorbed portion of the charge stock while minimizing loss of the adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons from the sieve pores.

The depressuring step s terminated when the adsorption pressure is decreased to about atmospheric pressure, and advantageously in the range of 0-10 p.s.i.g. The depressuring step is carried out at substantially the same temperature as was used in the adsorption step.

Following termination 'of the depressuring step, a purge step is begun using as the purge medium a vaporized slip-stream of the same material used as the desorbing medium. The purge step is carried out at substantially the same temperature as the adsorption and depressuring steps, and at the reduced pressure attained in the depressuring step. In this purge step a stream of the vaporized desorption medium is introduced into the adsorption vessel in a direction countercurrent to the flow of the charge stock thereto. The purge medium removes the remaining portion of the charge stock from the adsorption Vessel and the surface adsorbed nonstraight chain components from the selective adsorbent. In the purge step it is necessary to maintain the purge medium in the vapor state for efficient operation and the ow rate thereof at a value between 50 and 1000 vapor hourly space velocity (volume of vapor per hour per volume of adsorbent) and the purge medium volume at a value between 0.1 and volumes and wherein the ratio of the purge medium rate to the purge medium volume is between 40 and 7000 to minimize removal of the pore adsorbed straight chain components of the feed stream and to maximize removal of surface-adsorbed and the bed-entrapped contaminating components. The term purge volume refers to the amount of purge medium in the purge eflluent stream per cycle and is equivalent to one vapor volume displacement (at purge conditions) of the total volume occupied by the sieve bed. Most ecient operations are conducted using a purge medium velocity of 170 to 680 vapor hourly space velocity and a purge medium volume of 0.2 to 6.0, when it is desired to attain exceptionally high n-paratin product purity. The eifluent from the purge step comprising purge medium, unadsorbed charge stock and surface adsorbed components of the charge stock together with some adsorbed n-parafns removed from the sieve pores Vby the purge medium is returned to the fresh feed line as a supplemental charge to the adsorption vessel. Routing of the purge eflluent in this manner permits readsorption by the sieve of the normal straight chain hydrocarbon components of the feed that had been removed therefrom in the purge step. In addition the normal parafns in the purge stream eluent are recovered in the process.

After completion of the purge step, the vessel is repressured to the desorption pressure which is advantageously about 11-75 p.s.i.g., and preferably about 1-25 p.s.i.g. above the highest pressure in the sieve vessel during the adsorption step. This repressuring step is necessary to permit more rapid desorption of the pore adsorbed straight chain components from the adsorbent and to facilitate removal of these components from the sieve by the desorbing medium in the desorption step. The desorption pressure is attained by discontinuing the ow of the purge effluent stream to the purge accumulator via line 28, while continuing the flow of purge medium into the adsorption vessel. The rate of flow of the desorbing medium into the adsorption vessel is about 0.25-3 liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) to remove the pore adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons from the sieve. The desorption effluent comprising a mixture of desorbed straight chain hydrocarbons and desorbing medium is recovered from the adsorption vessel and then treated to separately recover the desorbing f5 medium and the desorbed straight chain hydrocarbons.

In the desorbing step, the desorbing medium employed is essentially of the same composition as the purge medium. Use of the same hydrocarbon compositon as the purge and desorption media avoids the problem of product contamination with other hydrocarbons while simplifying the processing requirements. Choice of a suitable desorption medium for use in the practice of the present invention is largely dependent on the composition of the fresh feed, desorbent avails and desired end product carbon number distribution. In general it has been found that most advantageous results are obtained when the desorption medium has a composition comprising a major amount of a straight chain hydrocarbon or a mixture of straight chain hydrocarbons having an average of about l to 3 carbon atoms less than the lightest straight chain hydrocarbon in the fresh feed charge to the adsorption vessel. Maintaining a carbon number spread of about 1 to 3 between the purge-desorption media and the fresh feed charge lightest com` ponent permits effective and rapid desorption times in the process of the present invention in addition to affording ease of separation of the desorbing medium from the desired product stream by fractionation. Advantageously in the treatment of C10-C15 charge stocks, a purge-desorption medium comprising about by Weight of normal heptane has been found to be satisfactory. In processing heavier stocks, e.g. C14-C20 containing stocks, a desorption medium composed of C10- Clg straight chain components has been found to give excellent results.

In the prior processes, the desorption step is generally the limiting factor in overall process time because of the amount of time required to effect removal of the adsorbed components from the sieve pores. The present process provides a means of shortening the desorption time of prior processes by the combination of (a) using a desorbing medium in the vapor state and comprising in itself an adsorbable normal paraffin hydrocarbon and/or admixture of such normal paran hydrocarbons, (b) a desorption medium space velocity of 0.25 to 3 LHSV, and (c) additionally in terminating the desorption step when about 30-50% by weight of the pore adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbon components remain in the sieve pores. Such a desorbing combination will materially improve the desorption of the adsorbed straight chain components from the sieve pores. It has been found that at a desorption temperature of about 655 F. employing an n-heptane desorption medium in the desorption of n-C10-C20 components from the adsorbent pores at a desorption medium space velocity in the range of about 2.0 LHSV, volumes liquid desorbent/hour/volume adsorbent, the adsorbed components can be removed to the extent of 50-70% in from about 12 to 28 minutes; at a 0.6 LHSV in from about 40 to 81 minutes.

In the desorption step of the present invention, the ow of desorbing medium into the adsorption zone is countercurrent to the fresh feed charge which preferably is upow. By operating in this manner the lighter straight chain hydrocarbon components of the charge a-dsorbed in the pores of the adsorbent during the adsorption step are rst desorbed, and, in turn, they assist the desorbing medium in desorbing of the adsorbed heavier straight chain hydrocarbon components nearer to the desorption outlet end of the vessel. Termination of the desorption cycle short of essentially complete removal of adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons from the sieve pores permits the time of desorption to be materially decreased, i.e. in the order of 50-95%. Moreover, the throughput of the charge can be materially increased with the result that more charge stock can be treated per operating day and more product streams can be obtained.

At the termination of the desorption step, the adsorption vessel is depressured to the adsorption pressure and the cyclic operation is repeated.

While the above detailed description of the process of the present invention has referred to a single vessel operation for simplicity, it is within the purview of the invention to produce same on a multi-vessel basis, wherein one or more separate vessels are used in each of the main process steps, i.e. adsorption, purge and desorption while another set of vessels are on a regeneration cycle. Periodic regeneration of the selective adsorbent is needed to restore the activity thereof after use in the process for an extended processing period. Suitable regeneration techniques known in the art such as, for example, the process disclosed in the Carter et al. U.S. Pat. 2,908,639 can be used.

The process of the present invention is essentially a timed cyclic process. It has been found in cases Where a relatively long desorption time is required, that satisfactory results have been achieved if the adsorption step is accomplished in about one-third of the total processing time, the remaining two-thirds being taken up by the balance of the processing steps, e.g. depressure, purge, repressure, desorption and repressure. In general in processing gas oil type charge stocks to recover the straight chain hydrocarbon components thereof it has been found that the following time sequence is advantageous: adsorption, 7.5 minutes; depressure, 0.50 minute; purge, 3.0 minutes; repressure, 0.50 minute; desorption, 11 minutes, a total cycle time of 22.5 minutes.

Under certain circumstances wherein the feed stock properties, carbon number distribution of straight chain hydrocarbon product, desorbing medium employed, etc., result in very short desorption times, it is more advantageous to accomplish the adsorption step in about onehalf of the total processing time with the remaining onehalf being taken up with the depressure, purge, repressure, desorption and depressure steps. Under these circumstances the following time sequence is advantageous: adsorption, 6.5 minutes; depressure, 0.5 minute; purge, 0.5 minute; repressure, 0.5 minute; desorption, 5.0 minutes; a total cycle time of 13 minutes.

The process of the invention can be conducted using three sieve cases per set and in such circumstances the adsorption time will be equal to about one-third of the cycle time, the remaining process steps taking up the balance of the cycle time. In a two case per set system, the adsorption time amounts to about one-half of the total cycle time.

In the desorption step of the present invention, it is particularly advantageous to carry out these steps in the following manner.

In the adsorption step, the valves in lines 26, 36, 41, 43 and 44 are in the closed position. At the termination of the adsorption step the valve in line 41 opens and permits the desorbing medium maintained in the lines 40 and 41 under pressure and at elevated temperature, to be by-passed around the adsorption vessel. At the same time the valve in line 26 is opened to decrease the pressure in the adsorption vessel 14A (on the purge cycle). Then the valve in line 44 is opened to permit passage of a stream of desorbing medium into vessel 14A for the purping step. At the completion of the purping step, the vessel is repressured by the flow of the stream of desorbing medium into the vessel until the desorption pressure is reached. The valves in lines 41 and 44 are then closed and the valves in lines -43 and 36 are opened substantially simultaneously with the closing of valves in lines 41 and 44. At the conclusion of the desorption step the valves in lines 43 and 36 are closed. Operating with this valve switching sequence permits the yield of high purity normal parafns to be increased without damaging the sieve bed by pressure variations during this portion of the cycle. This embodiment further permits use of low purge volume displacements during the purge step and minimizes the loss of adsorbed normal parafns from the sieve pores during the purge cycle.

In carrying out the process of the present invention, it has been found advantageous to employ a three sieve case system under circumstances in which a relatively long desorption time is required wherein one sieve case is on the adsorption cycle and the remaining two cases are on the desorption cycle (i.e. includes the depressure, purge, repressure and desorption steps). Operating with two cases on the desorption cycle permits a lower desorbing medium space velocity to be employed since the available desorption time is lengthened for a given total cycle time. The beneficial results obtained by operation in this manner include increased sieve utilization at a given desorption rate or lower desorption medium requirements at the same desorption rate. It is necessary to carry out desorption of the two sieve cases on the desorption cycle in parallel to prevent readsorption of the desorbed normal paratlins at the inlet of the second sieve case. Series desorption in the sieve cases is to be avoided for this reason.

Following is a description by way of example of a method of carrying out the present invention.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE A A hydrotreated gas oil fraction having a boiling range of 500 to 574 F. and containing 22.1% by weight of C14-C18 straight chain hydrocarbons is charged at a temperature of about 660 F. and a pressure of about l2 p.s.i.g. and at a feed rate of 2400` cc./hr. to the lower end of an adsorption vessel measuring 43 inches by 3 inches in diameter, having an internal volume of about 0.2 cubic feet and containing about 8.7 pounds of 1/16 inch extruded molecular sieve selective adsorbent sold under the trade name Linde Molecular Sieve Type 5A-45. There is recovered from the other end of the vessel an adsorption effluent stream comprising mainly C14-C18 non-straight chain hydrocarbons, with a minor amount of C14-C18 straight chain hydrocarbons, and some desorbing medium. The recovered adsorption effluent is fractionated and there is separately recovered the C14-C18 non-straight chain hydrocarbons. In the adsorption vessel, the selective adsorbent adsorbs the straight chain hydrocarbon components of the feed until a total time of 39.4 minutes elapsed at which time there is a 10% overcharge of straight chain hydrocarbons therein. The feed into the adsorption vessel is then discontinued and the vessel is depressured to about 1.0 p.s.i.g. in 0.5 minute. After attaining the reduced purge pressure, a purge stream of the desorbing medium in the vapor state and comprising 98.2 wt. percent n-undecane, balance nonstraight chain hydrocarbons in the boiling range of 364- 396 F., is passed into the adsorption vessel in a direction countercurrent to the direction of charge stock thereto. The ow of purge medium is continued for 7.7 minutes and at which time 3.2 purge volumes had been used. The purge eflluent comprising mainly purge medium with a minor amount of surface adsorbed materials and adsorbed C14-C18 straight chain hydrocarbons removed from the pores of the selective adsorbent is passed through a cooleraccumulator to reduce the temperature and pressure of the eluent to value of about F. and 1.0 p.s.i.g.

After the purge period of 7.7 minutes, the ow of purge eluent from the adsorption vessel is discontinued. The desorbing medium, having the same composition as the purge medium described hereinabove, is passed into the adsorption vessel in the same direction as the purge medium (countercurrent to feed on adsorption cycle) at a rate of 0.6 liquid hourly space velocity V/hr./VA to repressure the vessel to the desorption pressure of about 15 p.s.i.g. The repressuring operation is completed in about 0.6 minute The flow of desorbing medium is continued for the remainder of the 70 minute desorption cycle. There is recovered a desorption effluent which on subsequent separation yields the following fractions: C14-C18 straight chain hydrocarbons, and the desorbing medium. The sieve utilization value amounts to 0.481 pound of C14-C18 straight chain hydrocarbon produced/ day/pound of molecular sieve of 98.3% purity.

The ow of desorption medium to the adsorption vessel is discontinued when 90% of pore adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons are removed from the sieve pores.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE B The procedure of Comparative Example A is repeated except that the desorption period is 45 minutes, to desorb 80% by weight of the adsorbed C14-C18 straight chain hydrocarbons.

The sieve utilization value is 0.519, representing only a 7.9% increase over the value of Comparative Example A.

EXAMPLES I-I-II The procedure of Comparative Example A is repeated in each of these examples except for the following: Example I-a desorption period of 29 minutes for 70% desorption; Example II-a desorption period of 19 minutes for 60% desorption; Example III- a desorption period of 12 minutes for 50% desorption.

The sieve utilization values are 0.538, 0.549 and 0.545, respectively, representing an increase of 11.9%., 14.1% and 13.1%, respectively, over the utilization value of Comparative Example A.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE C The procedure of Comparative Example A is repeated except that the desorption period is 7 minutes to desorb only 40% of the adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons. The sieve utilization value is 0.504.

This Comparative Example C illustrates that the desorption of only 40% of the adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons is not satisfactory since the sieve utilization value is only 4.8% over the utilization value obtained with Comparative Example A. In addition operating at only 40% desorption is ineicient since the resulting loss in sieve capacity on the adsorption cycle outweighs the saving in cycle time.

In the process of the present invention it has been found advantageous to carry out the desorption of adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons in the range of between 50 and 70% by weight, and particularly in the range of 55-65% by weight.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and Scope thereof, and therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A process for the preparation of a C10-C20 straight chain hydrocarbon product stream which comprises in o comb1nat1on introducing a vapor phase mixture of Cm- C20 straight chain and non-straight chain hydrocarbons into an adsorption zone at an elevated temperature and superatmospheric pressure to effect adsorption of the straight chain hydrocarbon components by the molecular sieve selective adsorbent of Type 5A structure in said adsorption zone, withdrawing from the adsorption zone an adsorption efuent comprising the non-straight chain hydrocarbon components of the resultant treated mixture, terminating the adsorption step when the adsorption zone contains a normal hydrocarbon overcharge of from about 0.5 and by weight, depressuring the adsorption zone in a depressuring step to reduce the pressure therein to a pressure less than the pressure of the adsorption zone, discontinuing the depressuring step, in a purge step introducing a purge stream of a desorbing medium comprising a major portion of straight chain hydrocarbons having a lower molecular weight than the lightest component of the charge admixture into the depressured adsorption zone to remove surface adsorbed components of the charge therefrom, continuing said purge stream flow until the total volume of the adsorption zone is displaced with between 0.1 and 10 purge volumes, terminating the purge step, repressuring the adsorption zone to a pressure greater than the said adsorption pressure, terminating the repressuring step, in a desorption step introducing in the gaseous state at a space velocity in the range of 0.25 and 3 LHSV a desorbing medium having the same composition as the purge medium to effect removal of the adsorbed straight chain hydrocarbons from the selective adsorbent, recovering a desorption eiiiuent therefrom, separating the straight chain hydrocarbons as a product stream from said desorption eluent, terminating the desorption step when between 50 and 65% by weight of the adsorbed hydrocarbons in the pores of the selective adsorbent have been removed by the desorbing medium, and repeating the cycle sequentially.

2. Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adsorption and the desorption temperatures are in the range of from about S75-675 F., the adsorption pressure is in the range of from 10-50 p.s.i.g. and the desorption pressure is at least 1 to 25 pounds higher than the highest pressure in the sieve vessel during the adsorption step.

3. Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the feed to the adsorption zone comprises an admixture of C13-C20 hydrocarbons and the purge-desorbing medium comprises a major amount of normal heptane.

4. Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the feed to the adsorption zone comprises in admixture of C13-C20 hydrocarbons and the purge-desorbing medium comprises a major amount of at least one straight chain hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of the C10-C12 hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof.

5. Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure during the purge step is about atmospheric pressure.

6. Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adsorption zone normal hydrocarbon overcharge is about 10%.

7. Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flow of the purge medium is between 0.2 and 6 purge volumes.

8. Process as claimed in claim l wherein the space velocity of the desorbing medium is in the range of about 0.5 and 2.0 LHSV.

9. A process for the separation of C10-C20 straight chain hydrocarbons or a fraction thereof from an admixture containing said straight chain hydrocarbons and non-straight chain hydrocarbons 'which comprises introducing said admixture in the vapor state into an adsorption zone maintained at a temperature of about 600-675 and a pressure of about 10-50 p.s.i.g. and containing a synthetic crystalline molecular sieve selective adsorbent of Type 5A structure having adsorbed thereon lighter straight chain hydrocarbon desorbing medium from a later step in the process to effect adsorption of the straight chain hydrocarbon components of the admixture by said selective adsorbent, withdrawing from said adsorption zone as an adsorption eiiluent the resulting admixture now containing a reduced amount of said straight chain hydrocarbons together with said lighter straight chain hydrocarbons desorbed from said selective adsorbent during adsorption, discontinuing the introduction of said vaporized mixture to said adsorption zone when the said selective adsorbent is substantially saturated with said C10-C20 straight chain hydrocarbons and said adsorption zone contains a normal hydrocarbon overcharge of from about 0.5 and 15% by weight, depressuring said adsorption zone to a pressure less than the adsorption pressure and in the range of about 0 to 10 p.s.i.g. while maintaining the temperature at about the adsorption temperature, introducing a gaseous purge medium comprising a major amount of straight chain hydrocarbons having about 1 to 3 carbon atoms less than the lightest component of the fresh feed to the adsorption zone into said depressured adsorption zone in a direction countercurrent to the direction of ilow of said charge admixture and displacing the total volume of the adsorption zone with between 0.1 and 10 purge volumes to remove surface adsorbed hydrocarbons from said selective adsorbent, withdrawing from the adsorption zone a gaseous purge eiuent stream comprising said surface adsorbed hydrocarbons, and some of the adsorbed C10-C20 straight chain hydrocarbon compo- 1 1 nents of the admixture and said lighter straight chain hydrocarbon purge medium, admixing said withdrawn purge eilluent stream with said admixture being introduced into the adsorption zone during the adsorption step, repressuring the adsorption zone to an elevated pressure which is in the range of l to 25 pounds above the highest pressure in the adsorption vessel during the adsorption step, introducing at a space velocity in the range of 0.25 and 3 LHSV a desorbing medium stream comprising a major portion of straight chain hydrocarbons having about 1 to 3 carbon atoms less than the lightest component of the fresh feed to the adsorption zone into the repressured adsorption zone to remove from about 50 to about 65% by weight of the adsorbed C-C20 straight chain hydrocarbons from said selective adsorbent and concomitantly adsorbing some of the lighter straight chain components of the desorbing medium into said selective adsorbent, withdrawing from said adsorption zone a gaseous desorption ellluent stream comprising desorbed straight chain hydrocarbons and said desorbing medium, separating said desorption eilluent into a C10-C20 straight chain hydrocarbon product and said desorption medium, depressuring the adsorption zone until the pressure is at the aforesaid adsorption pressure and repeating said adsorption step.

10. Process as claimed in claim 9 wherein the time for said adsorption step is about one-third of the total cycle time.

11. Process as claimed in claim 9 wherein said admixture comprises C13C20 straight chain and non-straight chain hydrocarbons and wherein said desorbing medium comprises at least about 80% by weight of at least one straight chain hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of the `C10-C11 hydrocarbons and mixture thereof.

12. Process as claimed in claim 9 wherein said admixture comprises C13-C20 straight chain and non-straight chain hydrocarbons and wherein said desorbing medium comprises at least about by weight of normal straight chain C7 hydrocarbons.

13. Process as claimed in claim 9 wherein the adsorption eluent comprising the admixture now containing a reduced amount of said straight chain hydrocarbons and said lighter straight chain hydrocarbons desorbed from said selective adsorbent is fractionated, said lighter straight chain hydrocarbons are recovered and used as a portion of the desorbing medium during the desorption step.

14. Process as claimed in claim 9 wherein the llow of the purge medium is between 0.2 and 6 purge volumes.

1S. Process as claimed in claim 9 wherein the adsorption zone normal hydrocarbon overcharge is about 10%.

16. Process as claimed in claim 9 wherein the space velocity of the desorbing medium is in the range of about 0.5 and 2.0 LHSV.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,201,490 8/1965 Lacey et al 208-310 3,309,415 3/1967 Young et al. 3,373,103 3/1968 Cooper et al 20S-310 HERBERT LEVINE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. XR. 260-676 ggsggo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3,520,801 Dated July 21, 1970 Invencor) Ralph M. Lewis 8c Richard W. Stokeld, Jr.

It is certified that error a and that said Letters Patent are ppears in the above-identified patent hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7, line 59, "purping", each occurrence should read "purging".

column 1o, line 9, "5o and 6596" should read from about 50 to about 65%-.

SIGNED' ANU 95mm Auen:

Edward M- Hacha. Jr. mm E. JR- Attestng Officer commissioner ot Patin 

